Rescue from Yosemite Falls | YOSAR saves man’s life

Around noon on Wednesday, May 28th, a backpacker fell into the Middle Cascade of Yosemite Falls. The 22-year-old man from Union City, CA fell into the water while reaching for his sunglasses. He was swept several hundred feet through the 675-foot-high Middle Cascade into an eddy in a pool of water, where he was able to climb onto a large boulder in the middle of the cascade.

Zoom in to see the men.

The park’s contract helicopter was sent to “short haul” the man out. That’s right…hovering yards from the updrafts of the fall. Not easy. The helicopter landed Ranger Ed Visnovske to the man’s location. He was slightly hypothermic.

Both were then short hauled to Yosemite Valley, where the man declined medical treatment. Kudos to the YOSAR team and the Incident Coordinator, Yosemite Valley District Ranger Jack Hoeflich, for this rescue.

About Mr Half Dome - Rick Deutsch

Mr Half Dome. Has written the only half dome hiking guide, One Best Hike: Yosemite's Half Dome. Has hiked it 31 times to day. Lives in San Jose, CA Available for presentations. Carpe Diem Experience, LLC